11 ~9~

Fire...

That's what I dreamed of.

I could feel each flame licking my body. I felt everything. I screamed out in pain, but nothing left my lips. The sound was trapped, deep inside me. Fear clawed at me from inside. And my skin began to simmer.

I woke shaking and drenched in sweat.

My heart plummeted as smoke burned my eyes. But no, there were no flames; yet.

I let out a long stream of curses as I darted for the door. It wouldn't budge.

"Come on!" I begged as I jerked at the knob again.

"Come on! Open!"

Tears stung my eyes as I struggled. I began to feel helpless as dark smoke filled my lungs.

"Ivy!" Someone called on the other side of the door.

"Lucian!" I half sobbed half chuckled in relief.

"Stand back" He demanded.

I took a few steps back as Mirk appeared from underneath the door. The silver-blue bird gave a little nod, before disappearing again.

I waited for what felt like an eternity before the door flung open.

I stumbled into Lucian's arms as I tried to catch my breath, but it was no use. The whole hall was filled with blinding smoke.

"Come on," He said, putting an arm around me and leading the way down the hardly visible staircase. Fraya was waiting for us at the bottom.

"What... what's going on?" I asked.

Fraya had her nightgown pulled up over her nose.

"We think someone set the Lighthouse on fire"

"Who would do something like that?"

Fraya shrugged. "Someone must know your here"

"Wheres, dad?" Lucian asked suddenly.

Fraya shook her head. "He must be trapped somewhere! I'll go find him, you take Ivy out to the Willow. She needs to go, now"

"Fraya, no," I said. "It's too dangerous"

"Shes right"

Frayas' eyes began to water, then she pulled Lucian into a warm embrace.

"Don't do this" He said as he hugged her back. "Don't make it seem like you'll never see us again"

Fraya smiled.

"No matter what happens, I will see you again...Brother"

Then she pulled away and raced back up the flight of stairs, without so much as a second glance at us.

"Let go" Said Lucian as he quickly swiped at his eyes.

He took me by the hand and led me through the lighthouse.

Lucian had a hand on the doorknob, when we heard a voice call, "Wait!"

We turned to see Lucians' father, struggling to get to his feet. He clutched a small gray bag in his hands.

"Dad!"

Lucian tried to help his father to his feet, but could hardly lift him.

His fathers' gaze fell on me. And he tossed the bag with the little strength he had left, and it landed right at my feet.

He then turned to Lucian and put a hand on his son's shoulder.

"Go,"

"I can't leave you," Lucian said, nearly in tears. "And Fraya-" He gasped. "Oh god, Fraya! She's still up there!"

Lucian shot to his feet, but his father grasped tightly onto his hand.

"You need to get Ivy to the Willow"

His father doubled over as he coughed into his hands. He collapsed to the floor at Lucian's feet.

His father lifted his head, just enough to see his son's face.

"She knows just as much as I. She knew what had to be done in the end. Now, only you have something left to do"

"You mean...You mean your just gonna let her die?" Lucian asked as tears stained his soot-covered cheeks.

His father nodded. "It is the only way-"

Lucian cursed at his father, then turned and started back down the hall we had just come.

"Lucian!" I cried. "We have to...Have to get to the W-Willow" I chocked in between sobs.

But I could tell his mind was already made up. He disappeared down the dark hall.

I turned to his father for help. But he was motionless, and I assumed the worst.

Half blinded by tears and smoke, I snatched the bag from off of the ground, flung open the front door, raced across the slick cliff, and stopped at the willow.

The silhouette of a girl stood near the burning base of the tree.

"Rain!" I shouted. I'm not sure how I knew it was her, but I did.

She turned slowly, eyes red and swollen as she stared down at the flames.

"We could have been sisters, ya know," She said, her tone, emotionless. "But you want to bring them back too"

She glanced back at the tree. "What's so important about this tree anyway? Is it magic? Is it what you need to bring them back?..ANSWER ME!"

But I couldn't answer her. Both of my friends could be dead right now because of her. The keeper of light was dead now, because of her.

At that moment, I felt nothing but anger. No...Rage.

"What do you mean, 'we could have been sisters'?" I asked.

She scoffed. "You don't honestly think you were the only one our mother decided to abandon, did you?"

I had to keep her talking.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked.

She gave me an icy glare. "Isn't it obvious? I'm trying to stop you. You're making a mistake Ivy. You don't want them back"

"I do," I said.

Rain shook her head. "You think you do. But why? Because the Lightkeeper told you so?" She said jerking her head toward the burning lighthouse. "You and I, we have no reason for wanting them back. They abandoned their home, their family, their people; Their family!"

New tears formed in Rains' eyes, but she quickly swiped at them with the back of her hands.

"I understand, your upset. But we need them" I said, inching forward.

"Your more of a fool than I took you for" Rain snapped. "We don't need them! We've managed just fine for the last millennium!"

Still inching forward, I asked, "And what happens if they wake up again?" I pointed to the mountains in the distance.

As soon as Rain turned to look, I grasped her arm, yanked her forward, through the ring of white flame that surrounded her, and took her place. As soon as my feet met the ground near the base of the tree, it began to give way.

The last thing I remember seeing was the first streak of morning sun appearing on the horizon, and Rains horrified expression as I fell.

After that...Darkness...